Italy's highest court has confirmed a 14-year and 9-month prison sentence for Mario Roggero, a jeweler from Gallo di Grinzane in the province of Cuneo, who killed two robbers and wounded a third following an attack on his store in April 2021. The Court of Cassation's first criminal section rejected the appeal filed by Roggero's defense lawyer, making the sentence final. The case has reignited debate in Italy over the limits of self-defense and the right to protect one's property.
The incident occurred on April 28, 2021, when three men attempted to rob Roggero's jewelry shop. During the assault, the robbers were armed with a toy pistol and a knife. After the robbery had already ended and the perpetrators were fleeing in a car, Roggero pursued them into a parking lot and fired multiple shots from his legally owned firearm. His actions killed 58-year-old Giuseppe Mazzarino and 44-year-old Andrea Spinelli, while the getaway driver, Alessandro Modica, was wounded but survived.
Throughout the legal proceedings, Roggero's defense argued that he acted in putative self-defense—a legal concept where a person mistakenly but reasonably believes they are in imminent danger. However, both the trial court in Asti and the appellate court rejected this argument, finding that the threat had passed by the time Roggero opened fire. The judges determined that the robbery was over and the robbers were retreating, making the use of lethal force disproportionate and unjustified under Italian law.
The definitive sentence has provoked strong reactions from political figures, particularly Matteo Salvini, leader of the right-wing League party. Salvini publicly declared his support for Roggero, stating: «In tanti, in tantissimi stiamo con Mario Roggero. Chiediamo la grazia per lui!» — meaning «Many, very many of us stand with Mario Roggero. We ask for clemency for him!» Salvini announced that he would appeal directly to Italian President Sergio Mattarella to grant a presidential pardon, a power the head of state can exercise to commute or cancel a sentence.
The case has drawn widespread media attention across Italy, highlighting the tension between the public's sympathy for a business owner who defended himself and the strict legal boundaries of self-defense. Italian law allows the use of force only when there is an immediate and unavoidable threat to life or physical safety, and the response must be proportionate. The fact that the robbers used a fake weapon and that Roggero chased them after the robbery ended were key factors in the courts' decisions.
Roggero's conviction has also sparked discussions about the broader societal implications. Many small business owners, especially in rural areas, have expressed concern that the ruling could discourage victims of crime from defending themselves or their property. Legal experts, however, emphasize that the judgment reaffirms the principle that citizens cannot take the law into their own hands once a threat has subsided. The case is likely to fuel ongoing political debates about reforming Italy's self-defense laws, which have been a contentious issue in recent years.
As Roggero prepares to serve his sentence, the possibility of a presidential pardon remains uncertain. President Mattarella has the authority to grant clemency, but such decisions are typically reserved for exceptional circumstances and are made after careful consideration of the case's specifics and broader public interest. The outcome of Salvini's appeal will be closely watched, as it could set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future.
